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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on May 24, 2022 10:55:54 GMT -5
While I respect the opinion of Pink and TOM, I have reached the point where I am going to allow the science to stand (which is what I have always done). Life has to continue, we can’t remain shut up any more.
My sister was asymptomatic and wore an N95 mask the entire time. She told the bride and groom she was positive, and let them decide one way or another as to whether they wanted her there (they did). I suspect that TD and myself were some of the oldest at the wedding and reception.
As to not trusting the CDC, again…..this is a new virus that has only been on the scene for 2.5 years. They suspected it was going to evolve and mutate…..which it has. Because it evolves and mutates, no one can predict this as mutation is generally a random event that occurs from environmental stressors. So they knew it was going to mutate, and they even suspected the direction it was going to mutate, but that was an educated guess. Viruses tend to mutate to a less pathogenic/more contagious route as a means for survival. So what has happened really does make sense. If a virus mutates to more pathogenic, since it needs communicatability to survive, it is going to die out. Sick people don’t make very good vectors. The sicker the host is, the less likely they are to spread it.
In any case, there are educated people who are making educated choices about something they are still looking for a handle on.
About our decision to get onto a plane. I look at it this way. At any one point in time, anyone can be an asymptomatic carriers, and who is going to test themselves daily to determine if they can leave their home? I have protected myself as much as I can, and presume everyone else has done likewise. We minimized our risks, but there comes a time where life has to go on. If our risks were different, we would make different choices. If you choose to get onto a flight, you choose to accept those risks.
Like the virus, my thought pattens about Covid have also evolved.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on May 24, 2022 10:58:04 GMT -5
Even under Biden, the CDC has issued guidance that benefits airlines, businesses, schools, etc. I no longer trusted them. The lack of trust began with Debra Birx and now she either has or will be writing a book. She couldn't stand up to her boss but she can make money off it. The Iowa Department of Health had it's hands tied by the Governor. I am sorry that people were not and are not willing to make the sacrifices that it would have taken to shut this down. Generations before us have been willing to make sacrifices for the good of the people, but we can't. We have to have everything now because we are tired of this. My risk tolerance has not changed. I will not be getting on a plane, I don't go shopping, I never did parties and I mask whenever I do go indoors. Even if it's 5 minutes. I have learned I can trust no one and the comments here have shown that to be true. Thanks @pinkcshmere for bringing it up and pointing out the hypocrisy of what we saw and no one else called it out. What you predicted is what is happening. I have watched too many loved ones die or have long covid. I don't tolerate people well who are ready to just throw it all away because they want to have fun. Pretty harsh to lump people following cdc guidelines in with anti-vaxxers and people with no regard for infecting others from an active case of covid. It's one thing to take more cautious steps for yourself, but again...harsh to expect that of everyone else make those same choices regardless of personal circumstance.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on May 24, 2022 11:22:16 GMT -5
I guess at what point does your risk tolerance change? sincere, honest question, no snark. I mean, you're vaxxed and boosted, and you've already had COVID. 🤷♀️
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2022 11:23:42 GMT -5
<snip> My sister was asymptomatic and wore an N95 mask the entire time. She told the bride and groom she was positive, and let them decide one way or another as to whether they wanted her there (they did). I suspect that TD and myself were some of the oldest at the wedding and reception. <snip> About our decision to get onto a plane. I look at it this way. At any one point in time, anyone can be in symptomatic carriers, and who is going to test themselves daily to determine if they can leave their home? I have protected myself as much as I can, and presume everyone else has done likewise. We minimized our risks, but there comes a time where life has to go on. If our risks were different, we would make different choices. If you choose to get onto a flight, you choose to accept those risks. Like the virus, my thought patterns about Covid have also evolved. I keep flashing back on your statement months ago that you can be shedding dead viruses and test positive because the tests don't distinguish between the two (and the tests that CAN take too long and are too expensive to be practical). So, positive doesn't even mean you have it. Believe me, it was not a happy thought when I tested before my Alaska trip and before I could come home from Europe. I totally agree with your last sentence. I will admit to have sprayed all my packages groceries when I brought them home for awhile. I no longer do that. I stopped masking for awhile after I was vaccinated but am back to using them again in some situations even when not required because Omicron is more communicable. Another way to look at is that those of us who are venturing out are helping the economy recover, especially hard-hit sectors such as travel and the performing arts.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on May 24, 2022 11:24:33 GMT -5
I used to travel, a ton. I didn't realize exactly how much it all meant to me until I was sitting in the cruise terminal last November, hoping with all my might that I would "pass" the COVID test and be allowed to board that ship. I trust science, the vaccines, and the doctors who know more than I do about how this all works. we missed our opportunity to eradicate this completely, so now we have to learn to live with it. and I intend to live my life, not stay isolated like the past 2 years. we aren't meant for that kind of isolation. I don't think total eradication was ever a possibility.
I read that North Korea still isn't allowing vaccines in. And the issues with China's vaccine. New Zealand was a utopia of successful lockdown in the beginning but even they couldn't keep that level up. It never was. We had curfews and lockdowns to keep from overwhelming the hospitals.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on May 24, 2022 11:28:49 GMT -5
Yay! I checked my bank account and there was the $500 from the provincial government, to help defray the rising costs of ......everything.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on May 24, 2022 11:34:52 GMT -5
To add to the shitshow that is my job, my sale partner is being tapped for another role running complex projects and has already begun transitioning clients. We'll go from having 15 out of my 16 clients in common to only sharing 4. The other 11 will be split out amongst 3 other sales people who together aren't as good as her. This blows. I'm sorry. That really stinks.
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seriousthistime
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Post by seriousthistime on May 24, 2022 11:50:35 GMT -5
Think back to what your parents and grandparents told you about, or what you've read in books. During WWII, the nation was unified for the war effort. People bought war bonds, endured blackouts and rationing of food/gasoline, and planted victory gardens. Young women went to USO dances to entertain soldiers who were heading out to war, and went to work in occupations they never would have imagined had it not been for the war. Many were used to sacrifice, having gone through the Great Depression a decade earlier. I don't believe we have been that unified as a nation since then. In the past 20 years, it's gotten progressively worse. Open opposition now isn't just voiced, it's screamed in your face by gun-toting quasi-militants. People believe things to be fact just because someone said it. The "news" of today is not the news of the days that TheOtherMe and others of our age bracket remember when all reporters and newscasters reported on real facts, without bias toward one agenda or another. ETA: this was in further support to TheOtherMe's comment in reply #2095: I am sorry that people were not and are not willing to make the sacrifices that it would have taken to shut this down. Generations before us have been willing to make sacrifices for the good of the people, but we can't. We have to have everything now because we are tired of this.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2022 12:19:09 GMT -5
I’m just sharing my thoughts, not trying to be ugly.
If the exposure was no big deal, why warn the dog sitter to put the dog outside to avoid exposing her? What about the people on the planes that may have had health conditions or were traveling with children too young to be vaccinated?
We have a poster whose doctor advised her not to go to her daughter’s graduation from medical school. That poster is one of the people we were supposed to be trying to protect by getting the vaccine, when people were so outraged about people choosing not to get vaccinated. I don’t understand how we went from that to it’s ok to socialize knowing you have COVID and it’s ok to get on an airplane after spending time with someone we know has it. Do people like that poster not matter anymore?
The people I’ve been trying to protect all along still matter to me.
I wanted to spend time with my family this past weekend, but decided to wait because Mister went to YD’s graduation and cases have been increasing in number here.
I get it about how some people have it and spread it without knowing they even have it. But to me, it’s very different when it’s KNOWN that a person has it. Me personally, I would decline to socialize with someone that has COVID, and I would be upset if someone that knew they had it and exposed me to it without my knowledge.
When I go to the doctor, I still have to fill out a form every time, asking about whether I’ve traveled recently, been exposed to COVID, or have any reason to think I might have it. Why, if it doesn’t matter anymore?
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on May 24, 2022 12:38:14 GMT -5
I’m just sharing my thoughts, not trying to be ugly. If the exposure was no big deal, why warn the dog sitter to put the dog outside to avoid exposing her? What about the people on the planes that may have had health conditions or were traveling with children too young to be vaccinated?We have a poster whose doctor advised her not to go to her daughter’s graduation from medical school. That poster is one of the people we were supposed to be trying to protect by getting the vaccine, when people were so outraged about people choosing not to get vaccinated. I don’t understand how we went from that to it’s ok to socialize knowing you have COVID and it’s ok to get on an airplane after spending time with someone we know has it. Do people like that poster not matter anymore? The people I’ve been trying to protect all along still matter to me. I wanted to spend time with my family this past weekend, but decided to wait because Mister went to YD’s graduation and cases have been increasing in number here. I get it about how some people have it and spread it without knowing they even have it. But to me, it’s very different when it’s KNOWN that a person has it. Me personally, I would decline to socialize with someone that has COVID, and I would be upset if someone that knew they had it and exposed me to it without my knowledge. When I go to the doctor, I still have to fill out a form every time, asking about whether I’ve traveled recently, been exposed to COVID, or have any reason to think I might have it. Why, if it doesn’t matter anymore? Because she is a type one diabetic. Her risk is higher, AND she is quite a bit older than us…so she has a double whammy. It was an abundance of caution that I would take (and did) like when we were going up to visit my FIL with lung cancer. We minimized our risks for that trip, quarantined and tested. About those who are on the plane, they have CHOSEN to take the risk of flying. Flying is an increased risk, undoubtedly. As Athena mentioned…..and I have talked about, my sister was Covid +. She was asymptomatic. Just because you test positive, it does not mean you are harboring a live virus. Tests do not discern between dead virus and live, and you cannot transmit a dead virus. You can continue to test positive for 90 days after getting infected, however they only have you quarantine for 5-10 days. This is because you shed dead virus that your immune system has killed. It doesn’t mean you are still infectious, but the testing says you are.
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seriousthistime
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Post by seriousthistime on May 24, 2022 12:41:05 GMT -5
We have a poster whose doctor advised her not to go to her daughter’s graduation from medical school. That poster is one of the people we were supposed to be trying to protect by getting the vaccine, when people were so outraged about people choosing not to get vaccinated. I don’t understand how we went from that to it’s ok to socialize knowing you have COVID and it’s ok to get on an airplane after spending time with someone we know has it. Do people like that poster not matter anymore? ... I get it about how some people have it and spread it without knowing they even have it. But to me, it’s very different when it’s KNOWN that a person has it. Me personally, I would decline to socialize with someone that has COVID, and I would be upset if someone that knew they had it and exposed me to it without my knowledge. Right there with you, Pink Cashmere. Getting onto a plane after a known exposure is a different deal. I've taken plane trips three or four times in the past year. The planes are packed these days. Even when masks were required, people complied to various levels ranging from bare minimum to constant masking. Sitting shoulder to shoulder with someone who was exposed is just one step less risk than sitting next to someone with an active case of COVID. Now people are not even masked on planes. We used to think we were masking and minimizing social contact to protect ourselves and others. Now, I guess we make decisions for ourselves so we can live our lives, and let others fend for themselves. I respect people's individual decisions more than I did, but it doesn't mean I like it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2022 12:55:31 GMT -5
But what if someone was on one of your flights that had the exact same issues as her? If there was a risk, I would think that person on an airplane with recirculating air was put more at risk than the few minutes it would’ve taken to collect your dog.
And what I’m getting out of your last post is, that testing positive doesn’t necessarily mean anything either. So why do we even get tested anymore, if we are going to disregard the results, because the test could’ve been detecting dead virus? Why can’t we use that argument in situations where we have to get tested, like international travel?
It sounds like some contradictions to me. I’m trying, but I can’t make it make sense, because to me it’s akin to trying to have it both ways, to justify doing what we want to do. Because not too long ago, everybody was in an uproar about people not getting vaccinated to try to protect the vulnerable amongst us, but now we can even still be out and about after testing positive, because testing positive doesn’t mean you’re spreading live virus. Color me confused.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2022 12:57:09 GMT -5
We have a poster whose doctor advised her not to go to her daughter’s graduation from medical school. That poster is one of the people we were supposed to be trying to protect by getting the vaccine, when people were so outraged about people choosing not to get vaccinated. I don’t understand how we went from that to it’s ok to socialize knowing you have COVID and it’s ok to get on an airplane after spending time with someone we know has it. Do people like that poster not matter anymore? ... I get it about how some people have it and spread it without knowing they even have it. But to me, it’s very different when it’s KNOWN that a person has it. Me personally, I would decline to socialize with someone that has COVID, and I would be upset if someone that knew they had it and exposed me to it without my knowledge. Right there with you, Pink Cashmere. Getting onto a plane after a known exposure is a different deal. I've taken plane trips three or four times in the past year. The planes are packed these days. Even when masks were required, people complied to various levels ranging from bare minimum to constant masking. Sitting shoulder to shoulder with someone who was exposed is just one step less risk than sitting next to someone with an active case of COVID. Now people are not even masked on planes. We used to think we were masking and minimizing social contact to protect ourselves and others. Now, I guess we make decisions for ourselves so we can live our lives, and let others fend for themselves. I respect people's individual decisions more than I did, but it doesn't mean I like it. But we didn’t respect people’s individual decisions to NOT get the vaccine. All kinds of hell was raised about it and they were called selfish and stupid, among other things.
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on May 24, 2022 13:09:14 GMT -5
I was in town and went into Walmart to pick up some spinach seeds. They had sold out all their seeds except a few packs, couldn't believe it. I guess people are taking gardening seriously this year.
I went to another store and bought snow peas, spinach, turnips, and beets. I'm going out to work in the garden to see if I can get some weeds out and plant these. It's to rain again tomorrow and possibly 2 more days this week.
Well, I've changed the trip to Washington scenario. DIL is taking little guy somewhere and he won't be ready to leave till the 28th. That will make it tight for us to get back before the 4th. We can take him here to fireworks, hubs has taken him to a place where he had a ball and plans to take him back there. But it's going to crunch us on any sightseeing and getting back. They just don't have space for us, until son gets a she shed for her and can clear the guest room there is no place to stay. So a hotel is in order for all of us. I told hubs go ahead and go up by himself and get little guy. Then when we take him back we can all go with no time constraints and also not dealing with holiday everything. So end of July we can take a trip back, take him to some places on the way back and us go some places on the way back. We won't be pressed for time and if hubs wants to help son with anything he can. He is taking him a welder and also taking his laser stuff to help him see where the drainage goes on his lot.
He said he can sleep on an air mattress, won't work very well for DD and I. There will be some motel rooms in our next visit, there just isn't any real close to their house. But we will work it out. I like this better. And it was my idea, hubs said he would do whatever.
I wonder how many more times will little guy want to take that long drive down and back there. I can't see it. But we can fly too. Just right now prices and everything is crazy, I think it will get some better.
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on May 24, 2022 13:12:18 GMT -5
Well, my family is taking whatever vaccines are being presented and approved. And if it continues to get worse we will mask. There are 25 cases in our county right now. And since so many won't take precautions or get vaccines, it's likely much higher. Those folks are dying at a higher rate and it's their choice to do so. Me, I think it's foolish on their part, but let them go. I just worry about all they infect.
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Post by minnesotapaintlady on May 24, 2022 13:16:07 GMT -5
But what if someone was on one of your flights that had the exact same issues as her? If there was a risk, I would think that person on an airplane with recirculating air was put more at risk than the few minutes it would’ve taken to collect your dog. And what I’m getting out of your last post is, that testing positive doesn’t necessarily mean anything either. So why do we even get tested anymore, if we are going to disregard the results, because the test could’ve been detecting dead virus? Why can’t we use that argument in situations where we have to get tested, like international travel? It sounds like some contradictions to me. I’m trying, but I can’t make it make sense, because to me it’s akin to trying to have it both ways, to justify doing what we want to do. Because not too long ago, everybody was in an uproar about people not getting vaccinated to try to protect the vulnerable amongst us, but now we can even still be out and about after testing positive, because testing positive doesn’t mean you’re spreading live virus. Color me confused. The schools and my company don't require testing anymore after you test positive. It's something like 5 days post symptoms you're cleared to come back. Re-testing not required because there's a good chance it's going to be still positive. My ex was positive for 2 months after getting covid.
How often are you tested for measles? We had a big outbreak here about 5 years back and I don't recall anyone just going down to get a measles test for the hell of it.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on May 24, 2022 13:16:39 GMT -5
Cdc guidelines say to isolate for 10 days from a positive test. But just being exposed - if you're vaccinated - you don't have to isolate as long as you don't have symptoms. You are supposed to mask for 10 days from exposure.
I think the argument on positive tests possibly not being accurate is why are we testing asymptomatic people.
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Post by minnesotapaintlady on May 24, 2022 13:27:26 GMT -5
Cdc guidelines say to isolate for 10 days from a positive test. But just being exposed - if you're vaccinated - you don't have to isolate as long as you don't have symptoms. You are supposed to mask for 10 days from exposure. I think the argument on positive tests possibly not being accurate is why are we testing asymptomatic people. It says isolate for FIVE days after a positive test. Mask for 10 starting from the day symptoms began or the positive test if asymptomatic.
The change from 10 days to 5 was huge for our company as we were having so many staffing issues last year with people quarantining and isolating.
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on May 24, 2022 13:29:12 GMT -5
I hate them too. Can't you turn off the notifications for it? That's what I do, if it's a chat I don't want to be bothered with. My phone was acting up last week and I was messing around with a lot of things. I think I turned off the group text setting for that chat, now they all come through as individual texts from each member of the group which is even more annoying, but I don't think I can turn it back anymore? You should be able to "Leave the Group". I see all the time that So and So has left the group.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on May 24, 2022 13:31:32 GMT -5
Cdc guidelines say to isolate for 10 days from a positive test. But just being exposed - if you're vaccinated - you don't have to isolate as long as you don't have symptoms. You are supposed to mask for 10 days from exposure. I think the argument on positive tests possibly not being accurate is why are we testing asymptomatic people. It says isolate for FIVE days after a positive test. Mask for 10 starting from the day symptoms began or the positive test if asymptomatic.
The change from 10 days to 5 was huge for our company as we were having so many staffing issues last year with people quarantining and isolating.
You're right. I swear I read 10 days last week.
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Post by minnesotapaintlady on May 24, 2022 13:35:52 GMT -5
My phone was acting up last week and I was messing around with a lot of things. I think I turned off the group text setting for that chat, now they all come through as individual texts from each member of the group which is even more annoying, but I don't think I can turn it back anymore? You should be able to "Leave the Group". I see all the time that So and So has left the group. I wish I could. When my phone was reset it changed to individual texts rather than one group chat. So, I'll get this random text from a number I don't know, then I'll get one from my aunt's number replying to that random text, then I'll get one from someone else...
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seriousthistime
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Post by seriousthistime on May 24, 2022 13:41:50 GMT -5
Right there with you, Pink Cashmere. Getting onto a plane after a known exposure is a different deal. I've taken plane trips three or four times in the past year. The planes are packed these days. Even when masks were required, people complied to various levels ranging from bare minimum to constant masking. Sitting shoulder to shoulder with someone who was exposed is just one step less risk than sitting next to someone with an active case of COVID. Now people are not even masked on planes. We used to think we were masking and minimizing social contact to protect ourselves and others. Now, I guess we make decisions for ourselves so we can live our lives, and let others fend for themselves. I respect people's individual decisions more than I did, but it doesn't mean I like it. But we didn’t respect people’s individual decisions to NOT get the vaccine. All kinds of hell was raised about it and they were called selfish and stupid, among other things.Agreed. And me, personally, I still think the unvaccinated are selfish and stupid, among other things. I think people's attitudes toward protecting others changed when vaccines became available. Then it shifted to protecting oneself, rather than extending to protecting others. As I said, it doesn't mean I like it. I also respect the intention to protect the petsitter due to her increased risk factors, but the person sitting shoulder to shoulder with you on a plane or even just in the boarding area could also have those same risk factors. I still mask indoors, limit gatherings to reasonably small numbers, and get together with people outside when possible. We can do that year round here. The people I socialize with are all vaxxed and boosted. If we're in a car together, we mask up.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on May 24, 2022 13:44:56 GMT -5
But what if someone was on one of your flights that had the exact same issues as her? Then maybe she should not be putting herself into a position of risk? If there was a risk, I would think that person on an airplane with recirculating air was put more at risk than the few minutes it would’ve taken to collect your dog. Like I said, we chose to deal with this with an abundance of caution for a KNOWN risk. My dog sitter was not choosing to get onto a plane where her risk would be higher. After all, how many people do you encounter during a day who are positive that you do not know about because they are asymptomatic and have not been tested? Also, our dog sitter has chosen to live her life right now in relationship to her known risks. She does not go out frequently and is minimizing her risks. The least we could do is respect her risks - which we did. And what I’m getting out of your last post is, that testing positive doesn’t necessarily mean anything either. Once upon a time, it did. This was when better than 70% of the population did not have some sort of immunity. Pandemics are ever changing situations where you have to shift with the changes. So why do we even get tested anymore, if we are going to disregard the results, because the test could’ve been detecting dead virus? Because testing does still pick up positive cases in people who ARE sick. The likelihood of a positive case is much more relevant in a sick person who tests positive than in a well person who tests positive. Why can’t we use that argument in situations where we have to get tested, like international travel? Right now, the US is one of the few countries that still requires a test to get into it. Most other countries, including Canada, has dropped this requirement. In Amsterdam and other foreign countries, there is not a covid testing center on every corner like we saw in Athens last fall. It sounds like some contradictions to me. I’m trying, but I can’t make it make sense, because to me it’s akin to trying to have it both ways, to justify doing what we want to do. It is not contradictory, it is because covid has shifted from being a pandemic to endemic. A large chunk of the population has at least partial immunity and due to this partial immunity it is not sending people to the hospitals like it used to. That means that hospital resources are now no longer being stretched. It means that your immune system is not naïve to a new virus like it was back in spring 2020 and causing massive disease. Because not too long ago, everybody was in an uproar about people not getting vaccinated to try to protect the vulnerable amongst us, but now we can even still be out and about after testing positive, because testing positive doesn’t mean you’re spreading live virus. Color me confused. Again, those who are unvaccinated are more likely to harbor a LIVE virus and transmit a LIVE virus than those who have been vaccinated.
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Post by minnesotapaintlady on May 24, 2022 13:57:56 GMT -5
But what if someone was on one of your flights that had the exact same issues as her? Then maybe she should not be putting herself into a position of risk? If there was a risk, I would think that person on an airplane with recirculating air was put more at risk than the few minutes it would’ve taken to collect your dog. Like I said, we chose to deal with this with an abundance of caution for a KNOWN risk. My dog sitter was not choosing to get onto a plane where her risk would be higher. After all, how many people do you encounter during a day who are positive that you do not know about because they are asymptomatic and have not been tested? Also, our dog sitter has chosen to live her life right now in relationship to her known risks. She does not go out frequently and is minimizing her risks. The least we could do is respect her risks - which we did. And what I’m getting out of your last post is, that testing positive doesn’t necessarily mean anything either. Once upon a time, it did. This was when better than 70% of the population did not have some sort of immunity. Pandemics are ever changing situations where you have to shift with the changes. So why do we even get tested anymore, if we are going to disregard the results, because the test could’ve been detecting dead virus? Because testing does still pick up positive cases in people who ARE sick. The likelihood of a positive case is much more relevant in a sick person who tests positive than in a well person who tests positive. Why can’t we use that argument in situations where we have to get tested, like international travel? Right now, the US is one of the few countries that still requires a test to get into it. Most other countries, including Canada, has dropped this requirement. In Amsterdam and other foreign countries, there is not a covid testing center on every corner like we saw in Athens last fall. It sounds like some contradictions to me. I’m trying, but I can’t make it make sense, because to me it’s akin to trying to have it both ways, to justify doing what we want to do. It is not contradictory, it is because covid has shifted from being a pandemic to endemic. A large chunk of the population has at least partial immunity and due to this partial immunity it is not sending people to the hospitals like it used to. That means that hospital resources are now no longer being stretched. It means that your immune system is not naïve to a new virus like it was back in spring 2020 and causing massive disease. Because not too long ago, everybody was in an uproar about people not getting vaccinated to try to protect the vulnerable amongst us, but now we can even still be out and about after testing positive, because testing positive doesn’t mean you’re spreading live virus. Color me confused. Again, those who are unvaccinated are more likely to harbor a LIVE virus and transmit a LIVE virus than those who have been vaccinated.I thought I wrote something like this earlier, but guess I deleted it when I was editing. Covid 2022 is nothing like Covid 2020. SE MN (actually all of MN) is getting hammered with cases right now, but crickets in the hospitals compared to in the past. Our local one is completely devoid of covid cases right now and we have only had one death in our county the entire year which was back in February. Compare that to 2020 where we had 19 nursing home residents die in March alone when there were hardly any cases yet. All precautions and masking have been lifted and we are not quarantining entire departments from a positive case, yet despite all the cases the vast majority are not getting very sick at all.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on May 24, 2022 14:15:39 GMT -5
But we didn’t respect people’s individual decisions to NOT get the vaccine. All kinds of hell was raised about it and they were called selfish and stupid, among other things. Agreed. And me, personally, I still think the unvaccinated are selfish and stupid, among other things. I think people's attitudes toward protecting others changed when vaccines became available. Then it shifted to protecting oneself, rather than extending to protecting others. As I said, it doesn't mean I like it. I also respect the intention to protect the petsitter due to her increased risk factors, but the person sitting shoulder to shoulder with you on a plane or even just in the boarding area could also have those same risk factors.I still mask indoors, limit gatherings to reasonably small numbers, and get together with people outside when possible. We can do that year round here. The people I socialize with are all vaxxed and boosted. If we're in a car together, we mask up. the person sitting shoulder to shoulder with me has chosen to take the risk of exposure by putting themselves in close quarters with others. the pet sitter is still isolating, while also being able to keep working. I saw plenty of people still masking on the flights I've taken recently, and if I ever needed to be taking the train/subway again I'd be doing the same. that air doesn't recirculate. I was a germ freak before, and that hasn't changed. once I found out I had a bunch of very close contacts from the small super spreader charity weekend, I bailed on an outdoor house party the following weekend. people from the charity weekend were still testing newly positive late in the week (and actually, one more on Mon or Tues) so I wanted to err on the side of caution just in case.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2022 14:16:04 GMT -5
fan-effing-tastic. I just discovered that the paving company that did the first layer on my driveway last fall has closed. apparently the owner died last June, and they couldn't keep it going. I feel sorry for their loss of a person, but thanks for taking my deposit and doing half the job. now I need to find another company to do the top layer. no way I'll be paying the original quoted price with how prices on everything have been skyrocketing. That sucks. Not the same thing but the electrician that started installing our exterior lights last Tuesday was supposed to come back in 2 days, to finish, after the concrete he poured for the pole light fixture dried. Mister called him Thursday, he said he wouldn’t be back until Tuesday (today) and would call Mister Monday (yesterday) to set up a time. We have not heard from him and he has not been back. Mister is talking about just finishing it himself, since the electrical has done all of the hard parts, drilling into the bricks on the house to mount those lights, and digging the big hole in the yard for the pole light and running the wiring for that. We’ve been look at at that big hole for a week now, and the red caution tape roped around it, cautioning that there are buried electrical lines. Mister wants it finished, so do I. But idk how it will work payment wise if Mister finishes it all himself, instead of waiting for the electrician to get around to finishing it whenever he feels like it. And this is a real company Mister hired to do this, not just somebody we found that said they could do it.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on May 24, 2022 14:29:53 GMT -5
fan-effing-tastic. I just discovered that the paving company that did the first layer on my driveway last fall has closed. apparently the owner died last June, and they couldn't keep it going. I feel sorry for their loss of a person, but thanks for taking my deposit and doing half the job. now I need to find another company to do the top layer. no way I'll be paying the original quoted price with how prices on everything have been skyrocketing. That sucks. Not the same thing but the electrician that started installing our exterior lights last Tuesday was supposed to come back in 2 days, to finish, after the concrete he poured for the pole light fixture dried. Mister called him Thursday, he said he wouldn’t be back until Tuesday (today) and would call Mister Monday (yesterday) to set up a time. We have not heard from him and he has not been back. Mister is talking about just finishing it himself, since the electrical has done all of the hard parts, drilling into the bricks on the house to mount those lights, and digging the big hole in the yard for the pole light and running the wiring for that. We’ve been look at at that big hole for a week now, and the red caution tape roped around it, cautioning that there are buried electrical lines. Mister wants it finished, so do I. But idk how it will work payment wise if Mister finishes it all himself, instead of waiting for the electrician to get around to finishing it whenever he feels like it. And this is a real company Mister hired to do this, not just somebody we found that said they could do it. ugh, that sucks, too. I'm also dealing with mooch for the dishwasher installation - he said he'd do it, so I didn't pay the appliance company to do it. I've been waiting since December, and now I've been staring at this damn box since last Thursday. such a tease. if it goes much longer, though, Imma ask my parents to come down for a day so Dad and I can do it. I'm sure I *could* figure it out myself, but I get squidgy on home projects with water or electrical by myself. Mister's done some level of electrical if he does HVAC, though. you guys should easily be able to take care of it if you decide to do so. idk what payment terms you guys have, but I'm sure happy I didn't pay for the whole job when I signed the contract last year. yeesh. good luck with whatever you end up doing!
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on May 24, 2022 14:37:38 GMT -5
fan-effing-tastic. I just discovered that the paving company that did the first layer on my driveway last fall has closed. apparently the owner died last June, and they couldn't keep it going. I feel sorry for their loss of a person, but thanks for taking my deposit and doing half the job. now I need to find another company to do the top layer. no way I'll be paying the original quoted price with how prices on everything have been skyrocketing. On this subject, I had lunch with my DH and mentioned this. His comment was you should try to file an insurance claim against his Business Insurance (assuming he had it). He said that would be a covered event. Also you could file against his estate if it is not yet closed. DH mentioned unless there was some sort of clause in there for change in Materials cost.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2022 14:45:39 GMT -5
I’m just sharing my thoughts, not trying to be ugly. <snip> When I go to the doctor, I still have to fill out a form every time, asking about whether I’ve traveled recently, been exposed to COVID, or have any reason to think I might have it. Why, if it doesn’t matter anymore? And I appreciate that this has been a pretty civilized discussion even though we have different levels of risk tolerance, many affected by our own or loved ones' health vulnerabilities. I fill out the same stuff and it feels pretty pointless. Zapping someone with a forehead thermometer to check for fever is a good precaution- hard to fake although a fever does not necessarily mean COVID or vice versa. Anyone can lie on a form. If your answer is "yes" to any of them maybe you shouldn't be in the office in the first place unless it's to seek treatment for suspected COVID. Thursday I'm donating blood and will answer honestly about travel. I'm planning to take one of the freebie tests I have at home in the morning and will cancel the appointment if it's positive.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on May 24, 2022 14:46:27 GMT -5
fan-effing-tastic. I just discovered that the paving company that did the first layer on my driveway last fall has closed. apparently the owner died last June, and they couldn't keep it going. I feel sorry for their loss of a person, but thanks for taking my deposit and doing half the job. now I need to find another company to do the top layer. no way I'll be paying the original quoted price with how prices on everything have been skyrocketing. On this subject, I had lunch with my DH and mentioned this. His comment was you should try to file an insurance claim against his Business Insurance (assuming he had it). He said that would be a covered event. Also you could file against his estate if it is not yet closed. DH mentioned unless there was some sort of clause in there for change in Materials cost. thanks to you and DH. I actually didn't pay for the whole job ahead of time, so I think I'm okay here. I paid half the total as a deposit, and it looks like the binder layer is well over half of the materials involved. I've got a couple requests out to other local vendors at the recommendation of the landscape company with the same name (separate businesses, employees, etc, but a local family business overall). I'm hoping that one of them will honor the labor rates, and the materials increase won't be awful.
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